en_tn/luk/17/02.md

# It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble

This is a hypothetical situation. Jesus has not identified a particular person who has caused others to sin. You may need to make explicit that Jesus is comparing the punishment for causing people to sin to being thrown into the sea. Alternate translation: "It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should suffer the more severe punishment for causing one of these little ones to stumble" or "He would suffer less if a millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than if he should cause one of these little ones to stumble" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# if a millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea

This was a terrible punishment. It can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "if they were to put a millstone around his neck and throw him into the sea" or "if someone were to put a heavy stone around his neck and push him into the sea" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# for him ... his neck ... he were ... he should

The words "him," "his," and "he" refer to "that person" through whom things that cause people to sin come. (See [Luke 17:1](../17/01.md)). They refer to anyone who causes people to sin, to women as well as to men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations]])

# a millstone

This is a very large, heavy circular stone used for grinding wheat grain into flour. Alternate translation: "a heavy stone"

# these little ones

This here refers to people whose faith is still weak. Alternate translation: "these people whose faith is small"

# to stumble

This was a way of referring to unintentional sin. Alternate translation: "to sin"